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Quick guidance from Kenwood's flagship navigation receiver

Not only do you want a navigation receiver that won't slow you down with time-wasting search results for your favorite destinations, but you also want one that gives you the most possibilities for entertainment on the go. That's where the Kenwood Excelon DNX890HD receiver fits the bill — it's got a 6.95" touchscreen display that puts control of your music, video, and phone options right at your fingertips.And the latest Garmin navigation functionality with Insta-Search and Insta-Route helps you find points of interest and routes five times faster than with previous models.

This Kenwood uses predictive text so you'll even save time typing in the name of your destination. You can also take advantage of smartphone connectivity that'll put most of your phone's favorite features conveniently right on the receiver's screen.

Take advantage of your phone's conveniences

The DNX890HD connects you to many of your phone's favorite features on the road, but it works in different ways for different devices:

iPhone®: With a separate cable, you'll get control of your Pandora® Internet radio, Aha Radio, and iHeartRadio apps through the receiver's touchscreen when connected. App Mode also gives you limited control over other select apps on your phone. The DNX890HD also offers compatibility with your iPhone's Siri® feature for select email, Bluetooth® calling, and iPod® commands.

Android™: You'll get control of your smartphone's Pandora, Aha Radio, and iHeartRadio apps through Bluetooth, so no cable needed. The Kenwood Music Control app also gives you easy search and playback functions of your Android phone's music through the receiver.

BlackBerry®: You'll get Pandora Internet radio app control through Bluetooth, so no cable needed.

Free built-in NAVTEQ traffic reports

NAVTEQ traffic information for major metropolitan areas comes with the DNX890HD, at no cost to you. You'll be able to see congestion along your route and find a way around it from the driver's seat.

Bluetooth for hands-free convenience

Built-in Bluetooth lets you make and take calls through the receiver via your compatible phone. When your iPhone's connected with a cable, the receiver will automatically send a pairing request to your phone — all you have to do is accept or deny the request. The Kenwood Excelon DNX890HD also supports wireless audio playback (AD2P) and control (AVRCP) of any Bluetooth enabled audio player or smartphone.

HD Radio™ tuner

The DNX890HD also features an HD Radio tuner. You'll enjoy much-improved AM/FM sound quality when you're tuned into a local participating station, and there's no subscription required — just tune it in like a regular radio station.

Better connections, brighter sound, and bigger video

This receiver will play all your CDs and DVDs, including discs loaded with music files, while two rear A/V inputs offer connections for more audio/video sources. The DNX890HD offers a pair of USB inputs so you can easily complement your iPod with a thumb drive or other digital music source. The 13-band equalizer, digital time alignment, and other tools really let you tweak the sound settings to get your system sounding right in your vehicle.

The high-resolution 6.95" WVGA screen gives you the big picture for viewing video from DVDs or other sources when you're parked. You can tap into video content on your iPod or iPhone with the help of an iPod cable (not included). When you're on the road, you can play movies through a rear-seat monitor for your passengers. It's a great way to keep things interesting on long road trips.

Expand your system

You can hook up a satellite radio tuner (not included) to the receiver and discover how great it is to drive with your favorite stations everywhere you go. You can also connect a rear-view camera, so you can see what's behind you as you back out of a tight parking space. If you're looking to add amps and subs, you can take advantage of three sets of high-voltage preamp outputs available, including a dedicated subwoofer output with low-pass filter and level control.

iDatalink Maestro lets you keep your SYNC features

If your Ford vehicle comes with factory SYNC features, you don't have to worry about losing your favorite conveniences to get navigation and better sound — the DNX890HD offers compatibility you won't find in many other aftermarket radios, courtesy of iDatalink's Maestro module. For SYNC systems, you'll be able to retain voice-controlled features, steering wheel audio controls, and factory audio functions, plus enjoy expanded functionality including gauges, climate controls, a distance sensor, and tire pressure monitor. The DNX890HD will also be compatible with GM OnStar and Chrysler uConnect systems, with adapters from iDatalink coming soon.

Want to keep your car's steering wheel audio controls?

In most vehicles, you can use an adapter (not included) to connect your vehicle's steering wheel controls to this Kenwood stereo. Connect a few wires, then program the adapter for your particular car and the Kenwood, and you'll retain the convenience of your steering wheel controls.

Note: Bluetooth compatibility of this device may vary, depending on your phone and service provider.

Note: If you're going to use your iPod with this receiver, be sure to check "Details" for specific iPod model compatibility with this receiver or its optional iPod adapter.

Other information:

Why install a car stereo with built-in GPS?

Imagine taking a trip as your car's receiver gives you directions, finds the best restaurant for dinner, and plays movies for your back seat denizens. Navigation receivers cover all the bases, with GPS guidance, DVD playback, and a host of other useful features. You can search through millions of points of interest to locate gas stations, restaurants, museums, and other interesting spots, wherever you are. Most receivers offer Bluetooth capability for hands-free calling, along with the ability to search through your iPod playlists with touchscreen controls.

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dont buy refurbished from Kenwood

not happy with this product. I bought it because i like Garmin but setting up the phones to bluetooth was difficult. receiver required updates and the nav just stopped working after 6 months and come to find out refurbished only offers a 90 day warranty. Ridiculous for something at this price point. Kenwood please stand behind your products

Kenwood Excelon DNX890HD

Written By Joseph H, Texas on Thursday, January 22, 2015

I bought this unit to integrate with my older ipod, the navigation feature, cd & dvd playback and the 5v pre-out for my Orion old school amp. The extra voltage made a noticeable difference in terms of my stereo getting louder with less effort. The sound quality pretty much remained the same compared to my Pioneer App Radio II it replaced.

Yes it is a little complicated to use at first but after about 1 hour of tweaking, it's not so bad.

I'm really glad I bought this unit. I'd highly recommend for the advanced user that appreciates some of the features.

DNX890HD

User unfriendly, too many menus, too distracting to use while driving. Terrible sound, first unit that sounded worse that a stock CD player. Like the other guy I'm glad it was broken, says a lot about quality control.

Happy so far.

I got a refurbished unit and so far I have not had any problems. Installation went smooth with the install kit and wiring harness. No issues with software update, navigation update, or Bluetooth. It would be nice if it dimmed with the OEM dimming switch.

Pros:It made the Shaker 500 system in my car already really come to life. I enjoy having stereo, phone, navigation, and backup camera all in one unit.

Cons:Some features take outside searching to access. I had to research on the internet how to dim the display, for some reason they don't include this with the manual. I also discovered that the SMS message feature does not work with my iPhone 4, kind of disappointing.

DNX890HD Refurbished-Do Not Buy

Worked mostly like it was supposed to but would not accept firmware updates. Too much money for only a 30 day warranty. Glad I found out mine still had problems in first week. Crutchfield was great with the return.

Horrible radio

Written By David, Cincinnati, OH on Friday, May 23, 2014

I bought 2 of these: 1 for my car and 1 for my wife. They have been horrible. Waste of money. Bluetooth telephone is horrible and it at times will not recognize the garmin maps. had to reset the device, upgrade the software, no luck. have to send to kenwood to service it. This is the first and ONLY time I will ever buy a Kenwood. I will stay with Pioneer in the future.

Great Buy

I bought online from Crutchfield and did the install myself. Had to call a couple times with questions just to make sure I was staying on-track but the technical support team was great answering all my questions. I also ordered Axxess steering wheel control module and Sirius satellite radio tuner both of which were easy to install. I am not sure if the negative reviews on here are just pure audiophiles who have a higher standard than an everyday guy like myself but I cannot find a single thing that was on my list of "must haves" that has fallen short. Granted, it takes a few seconds for the unit to get started; but once it does everything is top-notch and I'm willing to spare the few extra seconds it takes to get there. All-in-all, I would recommend this unit to anyone. I drive a 2007 FJ Cruiser and the unit looks like it was custom made to fit in the dash. Great buy and great service.

Don't do it!

I'm normally a Kenwood Excelon Fan but, the DNX890HD is the worst HU I've ever owned, although the one I received was dysfunctional, it was sluggish, touch-screen was inaccurate, either you had to press twice, or accidentally hit the wrong icon, the Garmin Nav was slow, the backup camera took forever to connect (i was already backed up and going forward by the time it went on), sound wasn't good, overall not good, replaced with a Alpine!

Best Head Unit i have EVER owned!

Written By RP709, PA. on Wednesday, January 29, 2014

I see a lot of negative and positive reviews and none of the ones I have read mentioned whether or not they updated their firmware and maps. I did not buy my unit from Crutchfield (which is unusual for me) but the first thing I did before playing around with the various menus and settings was to download the latest firmware, and map updates. I don't know if the unit had any issues before the updates, but it certainly did not after. Out of the 30-50 head units I have owned and installed from the age of 15 to 40 this is by far the best and obviously the most advanced, and I have zero complaints. My install is in a 2004 Ford F150, I love the screen, have no issues with daylight washout, or with nighttime dimming, I wonder if the dimmer wire was hooked up to the correct location for the reviews that say its too bright at night, and screen angle plus antiglare screen protector takes care of the sunlight. I went with everything except satellite radio, back up camera, parking sensor bypass, 2 amps, add on USB/A/V input, Kenwood iPod cable, I even installed a relay for the ext. sw. and programmed my ext. sw. to turn on my LED interior lighting from the unit screen, and uploaded custom backgrounds. That is about it, update everything, you will need a 2 GB SD card for maps, and a couple GB thumb drive works fine for the firmware. Most if not all GPS units have a 28-30 second boot time, and while some are a bit faster than others, that is not a fair con.

2007 Mustang GT & Excelon DNX890HD

Very pleased from start to finish. Spoke with Rhonda to make sure we had all the necessary parts for a 2007 Mustang GT Premium. The stock shaker 500 CD Changer crapped out so over 2 months of comparing and pricing and looking at features I may add for later on, I was drawn to this unit. Placed an order on a Monday night and had the product in hand Thursday evening, a day before the quoted day. Took 4 hours to install, 1 hour to fit adjust with just the factory components to hook up. The wiring harness instructions were a bit vague at first but combined with Kenwood install instructions and Crutchfield install guides I ended up with a factory looking harness. Had to fit and refit a couple times to get proper edge to edge clearances on the face plate and console. System has been running for a week with no problems, lockups, or issues with syncing my phone (HCT one-max) and apps. I am hoping Kenwood expands on its app compatibility but for now it has everything I need and room to expand for a playstation, camera's, and more. Hands free works fine but why can't it read the names from my phone book for inbound calls. May be just a setting, don't know yet. The microphone does echo even with all the anti-echo adjustments. Video is great and plays every format I tried, some not advertised, but if you need a codex to play it, forget it. This is my first NAV unit and I am mostly satisfied. It makes you realize how bad the factory speakers are. let the shopping begin.

Pros:Great sound and even without the extended base and loudness turned on. Bluetooth hookup is simple and hasn't missed yet. Clean design that looks good in the factory mounting location. Large enough screen that reading the navigation instructions doesn't fully distract from driving and you can turn off the turn by turn announcements.

Cons:Gets 4 starts because: If your going to offer a Ford adaption harnes the least you could do is offer a pre-wired harness that doesn't require you to spend 2 hours soldering. That would cut the install time in half. Text entry for locations and searches are circa 2000 and can be annoying so its a good thing the speach to text actually works well. Has built in gauge app, but no link to the OBD-II system, if I cant figure out how to link that without an I phone I won't get that awsome option

Very Nice

Written By D.T., Miami FL. on Monday, January 27, 2014

I will say 4-1/2 stars. The system is very nice. I use this with the IDaltaLink Maestro RR and the MU1 faceplate for a 11 Mustang Shelby. The sound is great, and the radio responds well. I would recommend everyone to download the 1.7 update and use it. It helps the system out greatly. Boot up times are not nearly as long as I have read on in some reviews. My boot times are pretty fast.

Using the My Mustang, all of the sync features work flawlessly. I have also used the Pandora features, and again, the interface is great. ANother great feature I have is the vehicle info, and gauges setup. Nice and accurate, and it even allows reset of car codes on the fly ! The A/F is one of the reasons I wanted this, as my Shelby is fully modded. With this system, I do not need to buy any extra gauges as this will tell me all I need to know.

As for Nav. I have not had a chance to put it through its paces, but I do like how the interface is setup. In closing, I would say for any Mustang owner with the base shaker, this unit is well worth it. Fit is great, and the extra features is worth it.

Only con I have is that the Ipod features need a Kenwood cable to work with the KENWOOD intyerface, but the sync one works fine.

Great Buy!

This stereo from crutchfield is such a great buy! I ordered this online along with the Axxess steering wheel control module and Sirius satellite radio tuner three days ago and it arrived yesterday for my 2014 Subaru Wrx STI. I am not sure if the negative reviews on here are just flukes or they didnt know what they were doing during the install, but the mounting kit and wire harness made this thing a cinch to install. It took some extra time to run the satellite radio and navigation antennas correctly but overall it was easy and this thing works like a charm. The operating system flips between modes without hesitation, the hd and satellite radio tuners on this deck also work quite well. The display is nice and it does dim correctly if you use the orange illumination wire on the harness and go into your dislpay settings and set the dimmer to sync mode. The 890hd bluetooth paired up to my Iphone 5 automatically with no problems at all. I would recommend this head unit to anyone looking to upgrade, and if you dont know what you're doing with installation, have a pro audio shop do the install. Great buy!

Great Head Unit With Expandability

I replaced my factory unit in my 04 Forrester with a set of Polk speakers. It sounds great. There is so much flexibility in the customization of the sound. I purchased this unit for the Garmin navigation and the integrated Bluetooth. The Bluetooth works perfect. My HTC integrates with the Kenwood and the phonebook downloaded automatically. The txt message reader doesn't work though I knew that as I checked the Kenwood site before I purchased the unit. I also don't want to be distracted by txt message anyway. I use the Pandora and I Heart Radio integration regularly. As well as My HTC one that is Bluetooth connected my old iPhone 4s is connected to the USB and added Kenwood added adapter. My iPhone is used as an iPod touch by my choice. Both phones play nice with the Kenwood. Too bad the Garmin connect app for my phone does not connect unless I disable both the Pandora and I Heart Radio. Not a deal breaker the most useful items in the app had to pay for with subscription to Garmin. All in all this a great Unit and I would definitely would buy again for my other vehicle.

Pros:So much customization, with dual zone head rest can be added for video for the kids.
Serious/XM can be easily added.
Dual USB ports.
Great equalizer and other custom menus to tune your speaker for the best sound.

Cons:Garmin connect can be an issue.
Check with Kenwood.com to make sure your phone is on the compatibility list.

Glitchy, but good sound and GPS

Written By N, Michigan on Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Absolutely it is glitchy. I updated the firmware and it improved but still every once in a while the sound won't play until the station is changed and then changed back. The Bluetooth doesn't always connect to my phone. Irritating. GUI has some less than logical changes. Return to last page on some interfaces, not others, and not in same place every screen.

Kenwood

I bought this radio to replace my stock radio. So far I haven't had and issues with it. I think the unit is a little pricey for all that it is. It looks great and sounds great but really is only a $400 or $500 unit.

This receiver is amazing!

This thing is full of features (DVD, Nav, CD, Rear Camera Monitor, Vehicle System Info, Touchscreen)! I installed this along with the Maestro in my 2012 F150. I was able to retain all of my factory features. My favorite part is the gauges screen and tire pressure info. Cruthfield's customer service is second to none! They swapped me out receivers after the first one I ordered wouldn't do everything I wanted. They also helped me out with the XM/Sirius tuner. I had a little trouble with the Maestro after I installed, 2 calls to Crutchfield Tech Support and I was up and running! I ordered the refurb DNX890 and it looks and performs like a brand new one. I would not hesitate on buying another refurb Kenwood stereo.

Pros:* Display is amazing!
* Gauages & tire pressure screen are very useful
* Able to retain all of your factory features
* Price (I was able to pick this up for less than half of what a new one costs)

Cons:The only con would be the amount of the install time. I spent about 5 hrs total (including soldering the Maestro harness to the Kenwood harness)

My truck finally has a decent sound system

I bought this unit in late October as a replacement for the factory head unit which came with my 2011 Toyota Tundra. I've had it installed for 2 months now and I couldn't be happier. The Garmin GPS system is accurate and easy to use. I also installed the Kenwood CMOS 210 backup camera system as well, which I would also recommend if you are thinking about getting a camera. The sound quality on this unit is very good. The 22 watts per channel combined with the other audio options (equalizer, loudness and extra bass) allow you to customize the sound to your liking or you can use some of the sound presets. As far as the installation goes, it wasn't much worse than any of the other car stereo installs I've done on my other vehicles, but be advised--this install is not a plug-to-plug install. You are going to have to splice into other wires in the vehicle's electrical system. In my case, I had to splice into the reverse and parking brake wires. It's not daunting, but if you are unsure about making these types of modifications, you might want to allow someone with more experience to do the install or help you. These wires are not hard to locate. The Crutchfield tech staff is pretty helpful, plus if you Google your vehicle's wiring system, there are probably good wiring diagrams available online to use as an additional reference. All things considered, I'm very pleased with this purchase and wish I had done it sooner.

Pros:GUI is easy to use. The 13 band equalizer sure beats having just separate bass and treble controls. The picture on the backup camera is very clear--much better than I expected. Power output is very adequate--no amp was necessary. Boot time was also faster than I expected. Note: this is second Excelon receiver I've purchased in the last 10 years from Crutchfield and I hope I have as much luck with this one as I did the last one.

Awesome unit

Written By Joey A., Logan, Utah on Sunday, December 22, 2013

Purchased the refurb model unit with the most current updates. Had it professionally installed with the steering wheel controls on my 2013 Toyota Tundra. I've had for about 2 weeks now and everything works as described. Unit does have a slight delay during start up, but it doesn't bother me at all since I warm my truck up. GPS, Bluetooth, video, USB works great. I had a backup cam installed today and switches over as soon as I put it into reverse. Some say there's a delay, but that wasn't the case for me. I love this unit! Definitely recommend this NAVI unit.

Ehh!

Written By Jonny, Atlanta GA on Monday, December 16, 2013

ok so I was torn between giving this unit 2 or 3 stars. Lets start with the fact that my Pioneer avhp4400bh had been stolen from my truck. I decided to upgrade the unit to the kenwood 890hd and I can tell you every negative thing you've read about this unit is true. Yes the gui looks great but it becomes extremely glitchey really within hours of install. The unit freezes and you find yourself constantly messing with it while driving. It is very dangerous in this nature bc you end up focusing on it too long while on the road. I can not believe Kenwood would allow their "high end" products to go into production like this. The GPS is great but it doesn't make up for the lack of smooth function. Not once did my pioneer glitch! It always worked perfect thus the stellar reviews! Beware of this product. you will become frustrated at times will on the road and have to mess with the unit just to change an album from your ipod or some other basic request. It comes with a master reset and a memory option. The manual says to store your custom settings in the memory so that if your vehicle ever loses power or you change that battery your setting wont reset. What they actually mean is... This system is notorious for freezing up and needing resting so to save you the extra headache save your custom settings. With that being said the sound is much more powerful.

Pros:GUI looks great, Garmin GPS is best on the market, will impress people on looks alone, lots of cool extras you can add, gives a much deeper richer sound to your system than pioneer products

Cons:system freezes up at odd times! too much attention spent on troubleshooting while driving (dangerous) Apps are glitchy expensive for the amount of negative issues

Great GPS

Written By DeyanN, Glenolden, PA on Sunday, December 01, 2013

Great navigation, I installed it in my Jaguar X-Type to replace the factory stereo. It sounds amazing the picture for the videos is great. I do like the dual zone view, if I ever decide to put TVs in the head rests I can patch the Movies there for the people in the back. I love the navigation a lot of POIs and it stops you right in front of the address. The start up time is great less than 30 sec from start to the playing of the videos on my USB Drive. Overall I will definitely recommend this. It was very easy to install, No fuss no Mess.

Excellent Unit - Great Vehicle Update

Excellent Unit. I bought this unit along with a CMOS-310 Backup Camera and the SXV200V1 Satellite Tuner as an upgrade for my 2007 Audi A4 Cabrio. This added all the features that I was missing with backup camera, satellite radio, HD radio, bluetooth phone connection, and iPod control. I also bought the Steering wheel interface and the Audi replacement radio interface - these are a must. Install took about 8 hours, but it is amazing. Looks factory. Everything works. Response time is great once it booted up. Had a slight issue with getting sound out of my iPod, but a quick call to Crutchfield resolved that. My only complaint is that the bluetooth phone interface doesn't allow you to use the onscreen keypad to dial unless the parking break is up. LOL I found this funny since it is a safety feature but you have to touch all over the screen while driving to select a source, change a channel, etc. Whatever, it's minor since all of the voice recognition and phone book access work all the time. Navigation is a little choppy sometimes, but so was my Garmin, so it's good to, especially since you get HD Traffic updates. For anyone looking to update your car, I highly recommend this setup.

Pros:Everything!!! Feature rich, easy to use (once you learn the interface) and connected easily to my car with the PAC interfaces. A bit pro is Crutchfield and PAC-Audio support (PAC answered a question for me during install).

Cons:None, really, other than the safety feature that disables not only the DVD from playing when the car is not in park but also disables the telephone on-screen keypad.

Good unit, no problems

I have used this unit for a couple of weeks and had zero problems with it. The unit has not frozen on me once. This unit came with the newest software already installed.

GPS navigation has worked better than expected. I have had no reception or system issues. It calculates the route relatively fast. It's nice to have control of the GPS via Garmin's Android app. I love that it shows the actual interchanges on the interstate. This allows you to find the appropriate lane in unfamiliar places.

Hands free calling has worked well with my Android phone and integrated well into steering wheel buttons.

USB music is a bit slow to load and transition between songs. It isn't slow enough to be a deal breaker, but it it noticeable.

This unit does dim at night, but you have to configure your screen settings correctly first using the hidden menu. Press and hold the on screen menu button to find the hidden dimming options.

Being able to access my Mustang's ODBII data using Measrto RR is a great feature. Any data the car looks at can be displayed as a gauge on the screen. Also, having the climate controls on screen allows for a more clean install in the dash.

Pros:Allows Ford ODBII data to be displayed as gauges
Integrates climate controls
Great navigation features
Menu structure is easy to navigate

Cons:USB is a bit slow to load
Unit boot times take a bit also
Unit will dim, but the options are hidden

Good unit but it has problems. Bad problems.

I've had this unit for about a month and a half now. Initially I was pretty pleased with it. Tremendous audio control with the EQ, the Bluetooth hands-free audio for the phone is superb, and the Garmin navigation is pretty much tops. But there are some problems that likely will have me returning it. Bad problems.

First, as others have said the display really cannot be dimmed enough for nighttime viewing. Your best bet is to drop the dimness all the way to -10 and then drop the "black" setting to -10 also. That helps. Unfortunately the display is also almost worthless in bright sunlight. I will never understand how Chrysler, Ford and others can obtain a nav unit with a screen that works great at night AND great in the daylight, but the big 12-volt audio companies can't seem to pull it off.

Second, in the past week I have had the unit start freezing up. Frequently. Chronically. The only fix is to either power off the unit by powering off the vehicle, or hit the RESET button and then have to restore all of your settings from the handy integrated "settings backup/restore" feature they provide. It's extremely annoying to suddenly have the unit stop responding to any hardware or software button controls while you're driving.

We've also experienced just today the nav system went into a coma and kept saying it was trying to locate GPS satellites. Yet another "freeze" of the onboard software. Rebooting fixed it.

The freezing issue alone is why I'm returning it.

Pros:Lots of features, superb Bluetooth handsfree audio.

Cons:Seems to be lacking CPU power -- screens are very laggy at times. Recently have had troubles with the system freezing up entirely, requiring power-cycling or resetting. These issues might could be fixed by a firmware revision by Kenwood, but they seem really slow to release new versions. Also, the dedicated iPhone input doesn't work with the iPhone 5 no matter what Kenwood says. Not with the current firmware at least. Doesn't matter what cables or adapters you try to use.

DNX 890 Hd

Written By corn23, South Holland Il on Saturday, October 26, 2013

iPhone 5 users stay away from this unit it really is a bad unit for iphone 5 users none of the features work no less u have a iPhone 4 or 4s for them it's fine the navigation sucks the unit freezes constantly. It just looks good that's all can't change display screen also I have the maestro this is just a bad unit. And good luck with kenwood support no help at all. So take my advice if you have a iPhone 5 stay away and save your money.

Meh

I picked this up to replace the head unit in my Subie Fozzy. The sound quality is definitely better than the stock unit it replaces however I feel it falls short for the price. The initial boot on start-up is slow but not unbearable. The main screen is not customizable to allow you to remove icons that you don't use, which leads to needless scrolling. There also seems to be a serious lag on some menu functions that is long enough for you to question whether the icon you touched registered or not, causing frequent miss-selections. Hopefully these issues will be resolved in a software update. The Navigation works great, the integrated traffic is nice, and the fit and finish blend right in especially with the ability to change background colors to any shade you choose.

Had to get a replacement

I had to get a replacement DNX890HD as the GPS function of the first unit did not work - it was stuck on "Searching for Satellites". I talked to Crutchfield Tech Support & after trying several things (resetting the unit, disconnecting & reconnecting the GPS Antenna, etc), Tech Support decided that they would send me a second unit. Once I received the replacement unit, I first plugged in the GPS antenna from the replacement unit into my old unit, as it would be easier to replace just the GPS Antenna instead of the entire unit. That did not work, so I replaced the entire unit, and have had no issues since then.

Not ready for prime time

I design products similar to this for a living, and while on the surface it looks good, there are so many issues with it that I am truly sorry I purchased it.

The biggest problem? The screen intermittently locks up after a few seconds of operation. In looking over recent forum posts, this seems to be a common problem with Kenwood products. I updated the OS (I think 6 updates are now required to get it to 6.0) and the problem remains. Kenwood wants me to send it in for "evaluation" but from the posts I have seen, most of the time they just send it back without finding the problem. Factory reset does not work consistently, and when it does, it only helps for about 1 week.

Oh, I did find an undocumented feature to dim the display! Hold the MENU mutton down on any screen for about 5 seconds, and you get a menu to dim the display. This is undocumented BTW, and their tech support staff were of no help at all.

I've asked them to just send a replacement unit, but they refuse. I HAVE to send it in!

With customer service being such a competitive differentiator these days, you'd think they would bend over backwards to help clean up their image...

If someone made a nice double DIN mount for an iPad, I'd rip this puppy out and replace it in a heart beat.

So this is supposed to be high end????

Written By CH, charleston, SC on Monday, September 23, 2013

"Coolness Factor"

Build Quality

Ease of Use

Sound Quality

Value

I first got the Sony 601BT. I liked it, but I wanted a little more sound tweaking and an easier way to drill into USB drive. I saw this for refurb and thought man, I bet it does everything! And I can get it for a great price! There's only 3 things that are good about this thing. 1. Sound control is great. Good crossover control, EQ, Time alignment (once you use this you can't go back), and some other useful dsp features. (Some are garbage. Space enhancer and elevation...) 2. Nav seems good. I didn't use it a lot, but it was easy to use and accurate. (Never got traffic updates working) 3. If you own a ford, the maestro seems cool. (Haven't tested this)

Everything else was an utter disappointment and I can't believe the full retail cost of this unit. USB playback is awful. There are strict folder and file restrictions and it won't read your music if it doesn't conform. I've used mp3 players for years, since the old rio players, and I've never seen anything as bad as this. I removed all folder structures and placed music on an external HD (I put a 120gb SSD in it) and while it seemed to read most of it, it took several minutes to think about it. Flash drives are faster, but you can't have too many folders.Never seen this with any other device.The Sony makes quick work of the external HD and plays it all

Pros:If you really really use GPS, this is good for that. Or if you don't have much digital music. But whatever you do, DON'T spend full price on this. The refurb was very nice. You can get extra warranty and still come out much cheaper. Even so, if the top 3 reasons don't apply heavily to you (and you don't have tons of mp3's) don't get this. Alpine is good, look at them. (I can't speak for the GPS on these, but I've used their current dvd headunits).
Also, this kenwood played flac files. Which is good

Cons:Even when you do use a USB flash drive, moving between music is really slow.
The interface and menus are rather ugly and those are slow too. You can set your own back ground, but it only comes with 1 background that looks like a splash screen from and old 8 bit nintendo game. It changes colors... wow.
Other than the top 3 pros, it doesn't really have any other capability than other units. If the sony had a little more sound adjustment and GPS, it would rub this kenwoods face in the dirt.

Great choice for F-150!

Very happy with my choice on the DNX890HD. Combined with the iDatalink Maestro model and T-harness, it is a great solution for the Ford F-150. All Sync and steering wheel controls work perfectly. You also get the added bonus of OBDII inputs which lets you see individual tire pressures (stock system just gives you warnings) along with check engine codes & diagnosis. The screen is very bright (and easily dimable despite what you might have read online - hint, read the manual.) Also very touch responsive and fast. Absolutely no lag entering an address in the NAVI which by the way is outstanding as you would expect from Garmin.

Love, love LOVE the built in Pandora app. Only issue I had was getting bluetooth from my Galaxy S4 to play nice between the Kenwood unit (for Pandora) and Sync (for audio calls). I attribute this to the S4 software not Kenwood. In the initial F150 setup screen make sure you uncheck the use OEM bluetooth or some such setting. I don't know why but that works.

Nice Head

Nice head albeit a little slow to boot up. I have a 32G flash drive in the USB output and it takes even longer before music is playing. Its almost like the unit is cataloging all of the tracks beforehand. Great sound quality and nice EQ. More icons than I'll ever use but I just ignore the extras. GPS works well.

Kenwood Excelon DNX890HD

Written By JustinS, Valencia, PA on Friday, August 23, 2013

This is a great overall unit. The only thing that I have noticed in the past month of having this in my 07 Classic Silverado 2500 is that sometimes it is slow when skipping to the next song, and will occasionally freeze for no reason and need to be reset. Like what was said in the other reviews, I hope that future firmware updates will free it of doing these things. Other than that, great product and very happy with my purchase.

worth the money

I have had this head unit for a couple weeks now and have nothing but positive things to say about it. The software is excellent (make sure you update it, screen froze twice and unit was slower to respond before updating, excellent after). Within a day or two I fully understood all the functions and could use all the features with ease. Blutooth with s3 works perfectly. Two family members have factory navi in their suv's and imo this unit blows them away. They are clunky to use with confusing menus and reroute slowly, also require you to pull over to enter addresses which is very inconvient when you have a passanger and your driving on the expessway out of state! I have read reviews which said the unit is too bright at night, it's easily adjusted by turning on headlights and holding the menu button for 1-2 seconds to get to the screen brightness setting.

Pros:All the features I was looking for with well thought out software. All frequently used features are 2-3 clicks away

GREAT UNIT ! I am totally satisfied.

Written By JoDavid, Canton, OH on Tuesday, July 30, 2013

I read the low rated reviews to hear the worst-case accounts. I saw complaints about speed, the screen being too bright, and functions not working. Most were found to be related to self-install efforts. I had the DNX890HD professionally by a certified dealer ( into my 2013 KIA Sportage ). The Navigation panel is great! Garmin is the way to go. The radio is awesome. YES - you DO have to read the manual AND get used to the control panel functions. Once you do, you will be completely satisfied. I want to say to others, do not be scared away from this unit like I almost was. The brightness can be dimmed. The unit is fine with the version 1.6 firmware update. You can turn off the HD radio function (which I like). If you want so many bells & whistles, you cannot expect "one-button does everything" functionality. This is one man's opinion, but I would recommend this unit to others and would readily buy the same unit again.

Pros:Large screen, great Garmin navigation, nice sound, and the ability to still use my steering wheel controls, bluetooth phone option, and the back-up camera with such a large screen!

Cons:It does take a little time to read the manual and get used to the control panel options. But this is a multi-function device which does require some learning to reap the benefits of all the features.

A Few Problems...

Written By Kennyo, Port Jeff station,ny on Monday, July 22, 2013

A lot of things I like about this unit,but I get the occasional freezing screen,slow moving screen.Right now,just minor quirks that i hope a future firmware update will fix,but I worry if not addressed a future problem that might get worse.When it works as advertised,a nice unit.

impressive, if it worked

This unit was professionally installed, with a backup camera. the hd radio will not hold a station and spontaniously drops what the station you are listening to. (a known Kenwood issue) in addition I get spontanious restarts in usb mode. Navigator seems to function well, so far. perhaps Kenwood will correct the problems with new software

Pros:great concept

Cons:Does not work

Crutchfield response on Wednesday, July 24, 2013We forwarded this review to our Technical Support team for follow-up. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

Sophisticated

Just installed this unit in 03 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Long Box. Unit looks great, sounds great, and has many settings. Features for multiple inputs are amazing. Mot much this can't do. Installed backup camera which was primary reason for whole package. Love it! Haven't tried blue tooth phone yet which was secondary reason for purchase. All these other extras make me spoiled. Will review again after I have used for a while.

4 Stars is due to complexity without self explanatory buttons or help. It will take reading the manual to understand all the buttons.

Works most of the time

I've had it installed for a couple weeks now and it works OK most of the time. It's only been a couple weeks but I have ran into issues where it doesn't always pick up when someone calls and it started beeping for no reason the other day (turning it off and on seemed to fix that). The whole unit seems a little slow but it is especially noticeable on the GPS. I have a 5 yr old Garmin GPS that is more responsive that this. There even seems to be a slight lag in the GPS position. It catches up when I stop. If these bugs become more frequent, I guess it will be an issue but for now it is OK. I'm still glad that I bought it because I enjoy the added functionality over my previous OEM unit. But I can't comment on if it is better than other ones on the market.

Pros:The fact that the face plate tilts up and down. I was told that this is the only model on the market that tilts down. This was a lifesaver for my installation. I would not have been happy with the angle if the face didn't tilt down.
Most things work fine most of the time (I guess that's a pro)

Cons:Unit seems a little buggy in that everything doesn't work right every time.
The USB connection won't randomly play between folders so you have to put all of the songs you want to cycle through in 1 folder.
I was expecting to be able to use the iPod USB to run a 2nd flash drive but that doesn't seem to work.
The steering wheel controls cycle through all channels instead of just the favorites (maybe it's a setting but I didn't see anything.)

nice system

This is my 2nd Excelon, & it sounds fantastic! There are many settings to customize for your perfect sound. The garmin gps is loaded with features too. Everyone I show it to has been impressed. Works well with my Galaxy S4 phone. Can play movies off my ipod. I also have the CMOS-210 backup camera & it works well.

Pros:great sound, many settings, ipod & bluetooth connectivity works well. Crutchfield customer service is fantastic, especially with the installation questions

Cons:Garmin's Smartlink app does not work when Pandora and/or Aha are enabled. I have been told by Kenwood there is a fix in the works. I am using firmware 1.6

Nice unit....So far so very good.....

I have owed this unit for about three weeks now and I must say it is living up to my expectations. Superior HD radio reception be it AM, FM or HD Radio. The Garmin navigation is pretty fluid and very responsive. I would like to follow up in a few months and let you know if my feelings are still as solid. If all holds as is you won't be disappointed with this purchase!

Pros:Great radio reception with high quality sound, easy to use interface and the navigation is spot on.

Adequate

We bought this unit because the stock stereo in my wife's 2009 Saturn Outlook wasn't very good. The speakers had already been upgraded to Polk (full range and tweeters) and the sound was still bad. In addition, the rear visibility in this SUV is horrendous so we needed to add a back-up cam, and she kept 'borrowing' my Garmin so I wanted her to have her own Navigation system. This stereo does have a lot of features to it which are very nice. The new back-up cam is a incredible, and the Nav system is great. (It takes a bit of getting used to compared to portable Garmin units). There are a couple of key challenges. The audio reproduction is far better than the stock head unit, but a far, far distance from top quality. It is lacking especially in higher pitched female voices. (My Lincoln with a stock head unit, Crutchfield upgraded JL Audio speakers and tweeters, subs, and amp for the subs - costing a total of about $900 - puts off far, far, far better sound than this unit). But again, ultimately, the sound is much better than the stock unit that came with the vehicle. This unit is also a bit annoying because it does not automatically switch between bluetooth devices. If I take my wife's car (Saturn) with my phone, I have to manually switch it to hear my bluetooth music. To finish with a positive, though this unit does take a some time to boot up all the way, that is not true for the back-up cam. The back-up cam comes on instantly, exactly when needed.

Pros:It is very nice to have everything integrated into one unit.
Navigation is great. Works better than any other integrated navigation system I
have used in a car previously.
Back-up cam integration is excellent. (I am not using a Kenwood Back-up Cam)

Solid Choice

One of the best options for a full featured head unit. See pros/cons below...

Pros:Garmin navigation, road exclusion (great if you have a commercial vehicle or tow and certain roads don't allow trailers), 13 band eq, two USB inputs (iPod/iPhone AND thumb drive), adjustable tilt faceplate to allow easier viewing/interaction, dual camera input, hard buttons for quick access to common features, ability to disable safe mode so you or your passenger can use the GPS while driving (other units disable most functions after 3-5mph), works fine with my GM (2005 suburban)and Bose system.

Cons:Slow interface. Yes, it lags...but about the same as a Garmin handheld unit. I had the top JVC nav unit prior to this and it was very responsive. I returned the JVC because it didn't have road exclusion, GPS interaction was disabled while driving, and the route calculation software didn't seem as good as my Garmin when used side by side. The Kenwood isn't so slow that I would want to return it, but it does stand out as the obvious area for improvement in an otherwise fantastic product.

BEWARE!!!

I purchased the DNX890HD after months of research online and in car audio shops. Everywhere I read and people I spoke to had nothing but good things to say about Kenwood products. So I was really excited about this unit and all the wonderful features. Boy what a letdown. From the beginning I've had problems with this unit. When I first powered it up, I thought that the software was a bit slow. But I figured it was just a factor of so many features. 2 weeks into it, I began to notice that the software would lock on the screen. Even though the music continued to play, none of the touchscreen or manual functions worked with the exception of the power button. Cycling the power would help the situation for a few days, but it would continue to occur. I contacted Crutchfield for help but they referred me to Kenwood. Well, what a waste of time. Long story short is I've had this unit for 5 months, have been thru 3 firmware updates and still have the same problem. Kenwood acknowledges that this is a known issue but obviously can't figure out how to fix it. So they're wanting me to ship it in to be repaired. I'm ready to cut my losses and purchase something else...non-Kenwood. Horrible quality...horrible customer service. Buyer beware!

DNX890HD

The Kenwood DNX890HD system is by far the best car stereo I've ever owned. I have friends who own Alpine and Pioneer systems and they too absolutely love my new Kenwood system, it makes the dash of my 2002 cadillac deville look newer. The funcionality of this system is so user friendly, my 83 year old dad can navigate through the screens. This is definately an excellent buy very attractive looking and classy system to own. Thanks Hogan!! Oh Hogan is the Crutchfield rep. that explained every detail of this system to me, and I'm glad he recommended this system to me. Everything he said about this system is true. In my opinion the Kenwood DNX890HD will be the #1 selling car Navi stereo system this year. Anyone thinking about purchasing this system DON'T HESITATE DON'T THINK...... JUST DO IT......? Kenwood

Pros:Fast boot up reads cd's and dvd's very fast (almost instantly) bluetooth phone works good voice command works good great sound and easy to operate easy to understand very user friendly

Cons:can't use the text feature for some reason, I can't imagine this feature being there for nothing. Sooner or later I will figure it out but other than that this system rocks!

Potential For Greatness!

Written By eastender_74, New Bern, NC on Sunday, June 30, 2013

Bluetooth, Bluetooth, Bluetooth!!! At first there was a problem with it staying connected. It has since been corrected with a firmware update from Kenwood but now the issue is with audio quality. If you listen to hip hop or techno you may not care but the best way I can describe it is if you were to listen to your iTunes music at a sampling rate of less than 125kbs. The vocals and instruments like piano and violins are horrendous. I've used the same smartphone with the pioneer AVH-X5500BHS it's a night and day difference. I've had this problem before with a Clarion and the one thing they have in common is Parrot. They maybe well known for Bluetooth but they apparently fell asleep at the wheel when it comes to streaming music! Other than that this unit is Awesome. Audio quality on all the other sources are pristine. The Kenwood gives the user a plethora of fine tuning options including asking you on your type of car and the size of your speakers. My favorite feature is the timing control for both highs and sub so stereo sound imaging is possible. Other than the Bluetooth this unit is great. May add more to this later.

Kenwood DNX890HD ROCKS!

the Kenwood DNX890HD is easy to use,packed with features, has full control of the listening environment, and works superbly with the multi-angle CMOS 310 camera. HD radio is super clear. Ipod controls are easy and quick. The Garmin navigation screens are a wonderful bonus. The tilt screen comes with a handful of settings. There is nothing not to like about this stereo. I've always been a pioneer guy, but this stereo has definately won me over.

Kenwood DNX890HD Good to Go

Bought the Kenwood DNX890HD to replace my Eclipse AVN726E. Installation was straight forward, instructions were good, though I did use the excellent Crutchfield tech support to answer one question. I already had a GMOS-04 unit from the Eclipse to interface to the existing Bose system. From reviewing kenwoodforums.com I saw that some people has some issues with the 890HD due to the outputs being at 5v and the GMOS expecting 2V. Even with the GMOS level turned all the way down I was getting sound through the rear speakers only. After ordering and installing a Scoche line adapter from Crutchfield and installing it (easy install), I now have better control over the sound levels and all of the speakers including the subwoofer are working. The Garmin GPS works great, accurate and lots of features. The headrest monitors I installed are great, did have to replace one, Crutchfield got me the replacement in one business day. Interface to iPhone via bluetooth and cable was flawless, DVD movies, no problems, Pandora works great too. Make sure you get the latest firmware update from the kenwood website. My HU was at version 1.3 and installed version 1.4 via SD card. So far very impressed with the system. Startup takes about 20 seconds, but I can handle that for a system that works reliably for me.

Pros:Great GPS and all of the input options I needed. Rearview camera from a previous install was wired in and works, this HU gives you lots of options, reliability, and flexibility. What more do you need?

Cons:Not all of the 'features' that Kenwood advertises are working, but will be working after Kenwood updates the programming via firmware updates. Think that Kenwood should get everything working before shipping or not advertise features that aren't complete yet. Missing feature is Garmin Smartlink, which barely impacts operation of the unit if at all. I would have still bought the 890HD if Smartlink weren't included. Be nice to be able to select 2V or 5V output.

Can't Beat It!

Bluetooth works excellent for music and phone calls. That's with the iPhone 5 too. Chose this over any other products because it is easy to navigate and Garmin. The option to plug and play is great and to play DVD's is awesome.